Beehive.



H. B'. KNIGHTS..

BEEHIVE.l APPLICATION FILED IAN. 18| 19H- Patented Aug. 7, 1917..

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. B. KNIGHTS.

BEEHIVE.

APPLICATION HLED 1^N.1e. lsu.

Patented Aug. .7, 1917 s sHE'ETs-sHEEr 2.

4narrans'rirrizs PATENT omen.

HAI OID BUBBANK KNGHTS, F ALBION, MAIN'E.

BEEHIYE.

Application led January 1B, 1917.

'useful Improvements in Beehives, of which the following .is a spegciication.l

This invention relates to beehives and it is one aim of theinvention to providea beehive so constructed that the saine may be readily and quickly adapted for use elther 4vin thev brooding season or the honey making frame.

Season.

Another aim ofthe invention is to provide in a bee-hive a brood frame so constructedthat the same may be contracted and expanded whereby in the former in-V and supplied with vtwo foundations during the brooding season, and in summer the lower foundation may be removed and the frames collapsed and housed within the lower portion of the hives beneath the comb frames. Q

Another aim of the invention 1s to provide a novel means forsecuring the edges of the foundations in the brood frame sections. l

Another aim of the invention is to provide a bee-hive so constructed as to provide for additional ventilation in the hot weather and also'for an additional entrance for the bees.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a velioal longitudinal section-al view through the bee-hive embodying the present invention, the same being adapted for summer use;

Fig. 2 is a plan view Hiervon-the middle portion of the bee-hive being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a perspective new of the support for 'the lower foundation 'of one o the brood frames;

Fig. 6 is a Vperspective view ofj the upper section of the said brood frame;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective View of one end. of the lor; er sec/ti on ofthe brood Specication of Letters Patent.

Y Patented Aug. '1, 1917;

Serial No. 143,174.

formed with a transversely 'extending slot 54 and the other end is formed with a slot 6 and the inner faces ofthe front and back of the box are channeled, as at 7, to slidably receive the edges of a bottom board 8 which is slidably fitted through the slots 5 and 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of thed'rawings. The sliding movement of the bo tom board 8 in the directionfof that end of t `e box in which the slot 5 is formed, is limited by the .provision of blocks 9 which are secured `to the opposite edges of the said board at that. end which projects through the slot 6 and which blocks abut against the outer face of that .end of the box, in which the said slot 6-is formed, for the purpose stated. It will be observed by 'reference to Figs. `1 and 3 that the slot 6,is of a height greater than the thickness of the bottom board and that, consequently, an opening is left for the bees. It will also be observed by reference to the said figures of the drawings that when the bottom board is in the position shown therein theend thereof opposite the end which ca rries the blocks 9 will fill the slot 5. However, in very hot weather when it is desired to provide for additional ventilation and it is also desirable to permit the bees to enter the hive from lopposite ends thereof, the bottom board 8 may be slid to the right 4in the said figures of ,the'drawings` so that its lastzmentioned end will` occupy approxi- Vmately the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. '1, and as -this end is beveled, as indicated at 10, the beesmay readily enter and leave the hive through the said slot 5. l

Each of the brood frames embodying the present invention includes a cover section having a top bar -11 and depending Vside' bars, which are. indicated bythe numeral' 12, and it is preferable that the upper ends of the side bars be mortised, as yat 13, to receive tenons 14 rovded at the ends of thetop bar, the teiJ faces of th side bars 12 provide supporting members as will Vpresently vbe explained. Each brood frame further includes a lower frame section 'having a bottom bar 15 and upstanding side bars 16 lcated at the ends of the'bar 15. -The framesectionsare so proportioned that the side bars 16 of the -lower section may extend upwardly beside ons projecting beyond the outer the outer faces of the side bars 12 of the upper section when the two sections are assembled with the upper section received frame may be connected for relative sliding leo of the lower foundation, indicated by the,

movement so that the frame may be contracted and expanded,` a guide bracket is provided at the lower end of each side bar 12 and slidably receives the corresponding side bar 16 and each ofV lthesebrackets includes an attaching portion 17 and a portion 18 which extends laterally' at right angles from the lower edge of the attaching porl tion 17 and isvformed with a slot or opening 19 of a size tov slidably receive the said respective one of the side bars 16. In order to limit the movement of the sections in a direction toward separation, a stop member is provided at the upper end of each side bar 16 and. comprises an attaching portion 2O having an outstanding portion 21 which, in

assembling the sections, is inserted through" the 'slot or opening 19, the portion 21 preferably terminating in an upwardly and-outwardly extending flange 22 to permit voi` ready insertion o f the said member through the. slots or openings- 19.

`In 'order that a foundation may be supported within the upper frame section the top ,bar 11 is formed in its 4underside with longitudinally extending parallel grooves 23 and 24 and the foundation hasits edge inserted into the erably wedge-shape 1n cross section is driven into the groove 24 and then secured in place by means of tacks or nails. The strip 26 is of a thickness greater than the width of the groove 24 and, consequently, when driven into place the thin wall between the grooves 23 and 24 will be sprung-or crowded 'in the direction of the groove 23and williirmly bind the'edge of the said foundation. -In order that a foundation may be supported within the lower frame section there is provided a supporting frame, such as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, this frame includinga bottom bar 27 and upstanding side bars 28 and the lower ends of thesaid side bars are mortised, as at 29, -to receive the ends of the bottom bar 27, the mortise being of greater depth than. the thickness'of the said bottom bar whereby to provide downward projections 30 at the opposite sides of the mortise, which projections by engagementwith the opposite edges of the bottom bar' 15 of the lower frame section-prevent displacement of the supporting frame for the said lower foundation. TheA upper ends of the side bars 28 -are formed with spaced kei-fs or notches 31which receive the ends of thin Wooden strips 32 which bind the edge together.

groove 23 and a strip' 26 prefnumeral 33, tacks 'or any other suitable securing elementsfbeing driven through the purpose of securing the same strips for the It will now be understood that when the hive is to be used during the winter or brooding season the sections ofgeach brood frame are relatively separated so that the frame as a whole shown in Fig. 3 of the drawin A foundation having been arranged within the upper section, the foundation supporting frame shown in Fig. 5 is disposed wlthin the lower frame section and its side bars 28 areof such will be expanded, as

height that their upper ends will constitute I a sup ort for the lower ends of the side bars 12 o theupper frame section and, consequently, the frame sections will be held relatively separated and the upper section will be supported against downward. movement. In order to further provide against disarrangement of .the supporting frame for the lower foundation when the same is disposed within the lower frame section, the side bars 16 and 2S are formed respectively with openings 34 and 35 which register when the frames are assembled, and dowel pins 36 are provided and are designed vto be fitted through the said openings for .the purpose stated. I t will be observed by reference to Fig. 3, that when the foundation frames are employed in their expanded condition they are placed side byside within the hive box with the projectin portions21 resting upon ledges 37 provided the said box. When it is desired to adapt the foundation frames for use during the honey making season'and it is' desired to contract the said frames, the supporting frames for the lower'foundation are removed whereupon the upper frame section-may be slid downwardly with relation to the lower frame section until the projecting ends of the 'tenons 14 rest upon the stopmembers 21 whereupon-the frames may be arranged side lation. The comb frames of the usual con-. struction and indicated by the nume-al 40 v are arranged end .to end upon the bars 39 and. the frames of each roware spaced from the frames of the adjacent rows byl means of supporting bars 41 which are removably fitted attheir'ends into notches 42 formed in the upper edges of the ends 38 of the said frame. It will -be understood, of

at the opposite ends of by side within the hive box in the manner -shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings.

' course, that upon 'remoialof the supporting-bars 4:1 the 'comb frames may be readily separated and removed.

aving thus described the invention, what isy claimed as newV is: yl. A brood frame ing upper and lower connected, and means within each' frame sec- I for bee-hives compristion for su porting a foundation.4

. Vmeans within t 2. 'A `co lapsible and expansible brood frame for bee-hives includin and means within each rame section for supporting a foundation. g3g. A brood frame 4for bee-hives comprising a section including a top bar and depending side bars,v means upon the to bar for supportin a foundation, a lower ame section including s. bottom bar and upstanding side bars, and means extending between the upper ends fleet-mentioned frame a foundation. Y a l 4. brood frame for bee-hives compris- .ing an upper section and a llower section, 'means slidabl connecting lthe sections,

e upper section for supportingthe foundation, and a foundation supsection for supporting I y'porting frame lremovably mounted within thelower section. y

5. -A brood frame ing an ulpger section and a lower section, means 's i ablyl connecting the sections, means within t e upper section for supporting the foundation, and a foundation supporting frame removably mounted within the lower section and constituting means also for preventing relative sliding movement of p the sections to collapse the frame.

. 6. In a bee-hive', a hive box provided in opposite walls with entrance' openings, and

i a bottom for the box Slidably mounted therein and occupying the said openings, one of the openings being of dimensions greater than the cross sectional dimensions of the said bottom to provide a permanent entrance and the other opening being of such dimensions as to be closed by the bottom when the bottom is in one position, the bottom being beveled at oneend and slidable toposition partly uncovering the second-mentioned opening whereby to afford an auxiliary entrance.

47. A brood frame for' bee-hives compris'- ing an upper section having depending side members each provided at its lower end with a loop, aflower section having upstanding side 'portions slidably fitted through the said loop whereby the sections are slidably connected, means within the upper section for supporting a foundation, and meansremov- `ably arranged within the lower section for aipporting a foundation.

`side portions slidably frame sections slidably frame secof the said side bars of the Vcomprising for bee-hives compris- `8. A brood `frame for bee-hives comprising an upper section having portions rovided at their lower ends with loops, a ower section having Jupstanding fitted through the loops, means at the upper ends of the side lmembers of the lower section for limiting the downward movement of the said lower section, and means within each of the secy tions for supportinga foundation.

9. A brood frame 'for bee-hives compris-1.`

lin an u per' section including depending si e mem ers, and a lower section havin upstanding side members slidably connecte v with the side members of the upper section, means for supportin afoundation in the upper section, and a oundation `supporting frame removabl 10. A brood rame for bee-hives comprising upper and lower sections slidably connected, means within the upper section ,for supporting a foundation, the lower section members, a frame including a top barandy depending side members, the said frame being designed to be removably tted within the lower section and thelower ends of the side members of said frame being construct- 90V lower bar of the lower section, andmeans within the said frame f ed to straddlev the for supporting" a foundation.

11. A brood frame for bee-hives comprisdepending side a lower bar and upstanding side 85 ttedwin the lower section. i'

ing upper and lower sections slidably connected, means within the u persection for supporting a foundation, e lower section comprising a lower bar and upstanding sidemembers, a frame including a top bar and depending side members, ing designed to be removably iitted within the lower section side members of said frame being constructed to straddle the lower bar of the lower secand the lower ends of the the said frame bei tion, and means within the said frame for supportin a foundation, the upper corners of the said frame,

when the frame is in place within the lower section, constituting abutmentsV for the lower ends of the side members of the u per prevent collapse o the frame as a who e.

12. VIn a bee-hive, a hive box provided interiorly with oppositely located supporting ledges, a brood frame arranged within the box and comprising upper and lower sections slidably connected, means upon the upper section for coaction with the ysaid ledges to support the said section inu elevated or lowered position dependinguson whether ,the

frame as a whole is exten and `means within each ofI the sections for supporting a foundatiovna4 ln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

maori) BURBANK KNIGHTS. u.. al

section whereby to .110"

ed or collapsed, 

